Firearm buttstock

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is directed to buttstocks for riffles, including assault rifles, automatic and semi-automatic rifles, hunting and sporting rifles, and the like. The buttstock of this disclosure comprises a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion, and rear portion. The front portion of the body is configured to be coupled to a lower receiver of a firearm, while the rear portion is for holding against a user shoulder. The buttstock also comprises a receptacle arranged in the upper portion for accommodating a buffer tube of the firearm. The buttstock also comprises an opening, a recess, or a thumbhole for accommodating a thumb of a user hand. The opening or recess is arranged such that when the user operates the buttstock connected to the firearm, the thumb of the user hand is positioned above a trigger of the firearm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/470,886 filed Mar. 14, 2017, entitled “One-Piece Buttstock for Rifles,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

This disclosure generally relates to firearms and firearm accessories. More particularly, this disclosure relates to firearm non-adjustable buttstocks, including, for example, buttstocks for AR-15, M-16, and SR-25 rifles.

Description of Related Art

Conventional rifles include buttstocks and pistol grips. A buttstock of a rifle is typically located in the rear of a firing mechanism where a shoulder of a user is held when shooting. When the user holds the rifle, a thumb of the user hand usually wraps around the pistol grip of the rifle. When wrapping the pistol grip, the thumb of the user hand is conventionally located below a trigger of the rifle. Such a position of the thumb may not comply with requirements of legal regulations prescribing allowed modifications of the rifles. As such, there is a need for new and improved rifle accessories to comply with the applicable regulations.

Note, the approaches described in this section are not necessarily prior art to the claims in this document and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

SUMMARY

This section is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description section. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

This disclosure is directed to firearm buttstocks. A buttstock provides a means for a user to firmly support a firearm and aim with its stability. A buttstock is attachable to a firearm, which belongs to a class of various devices, including assault rifles, automatic rifles, semi-automatic rifles, hunting and sporting rifles, shotguns, handguns, long guns, carabines, and the like. The buttstock of this disclosure is configured to comply with various regulations and laws prohibiting a thumb of a user hand be located below a trigger of a firearm.

According to a first aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a buttstock for a firearm, where the buttstock comprises a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion, and rear portion. The front portion of the body is configured to be coupled to the firearm. The rear portion of the body is configured to hold (press) against a user shoulder. The buttstock also comprises a receptacle in the upper portion for accommodating a buffer tube of the firearm. The buttstock also comprises an opening for accommodating a thumb of a user hand. The opening is arranged in the body of the buttstock such that when a user operates the buttstock connected to the firearm, the thumb of the user hand is positioned above a trigger of the firearm. The lower portion of the body is configured to allow remaining fingers of the user hand to wrap around the lower portion when the user operates the buttstock with the firearm. The opening for accommodating the thumb of the user hand can be of various designs. This opening can be a through-hole (e.g., a thumbhole) within the upper portion or the front portion of the body. In other embodiments, the opening for accommodating the thumb of the user hand can be a recess-like opening formed by a curved shape of the upper portion or the front portion of the body. In yet other embodiments, the opening for accommodating the thumb of the user hand may be formed by a curved surface of the upper portion of the body.

In one embodiment, the buttstock is a single-piece device. In another embodiment, however, the buttstock is a modular device. Moreover, the buttstock may not include a pistol grip. Note, that the rifle may also lack a pistol grip, which enables the user to position the thumb above the trigger of the firearm. In certain embodiments, the front portion is configured to be connected to a lower receiver of the firearm, where the firearm does not include a pistol grip. For these ends, the front portion may include a through-hole for a fastener configured to fasten the buttstock to the lower receiver of the firearm.

In additional embodiments, the buttstock further comprises an optional adapter for positioning between the front portion of the body and a lower receiver of the firearm. The adapter may include a through-hole for a fastener configured to fasten the buttstock to the lower receiver of the firearm. In some additional embodiments, the lower portion of the body is curved to provide a support to a rear side of a palm of the user hand. The body can be also a curved tubular assembly.

According to a second aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a buttstock for a firearm, where the buttstock comprises a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion, and rear portion. The front portion of the body is configured to be coupled to the firearm. The rear portion of the body is configured to hold against a user shoulder. The buttstock also comprises a receptacle in the upper portion for accommodating a buffer tube of the firearm. The buttstock also comprises an opening for accommodating a thumb of a user hand. The opening is formed in the body of the buttstock at a level, which is higher than a trigger of the firearm. Similar to above, the opening can be a through-hole within the upper portion or the front portion of the body, a recess-like opening formed by a curved shape of the upper portion or the front portion of the body, or it can be formed by a curved surface of the upper portion of the body.

According to a third aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a buttstock for a firearm, where the buttstock comprises a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion, and rear portion. The front portion of the body is configured to be coupled to the firearm. The rear portion of the body is configured to hold against a user shoulder. The buttstock also comprises a receptacle in the upper portion for accommodating a buffer tube of the firearm. The buttstock also comprises a support for a thumb of a user hand. The support may include a recess or an opening formed by a curved shape of the upper portion of the body. In addition, the support is arranged such that when a user operates the buttstock connected to the firearm, the thumb of the user hand is positioned above a trigger of the firearm.

Additional objects, advantages, and features of embodiments will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the description and drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a buttstock for a rifle, according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a buttstock connected to a rifle, according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a position of a user hand when a buttstock is connected to a rifle, according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram illustrating another example embodiment of a buttstock connected to a rifle;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a front-side isometric view of a buttstock, according to an example embodiment; and

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram illustrating yet another example embodiment of a buttstock connected to a rifle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of embodiments includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. Approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section. The drawings show illustrations in accordance with example embodiments. These example embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. The embodiments can be combined, other embodiments can be utilized, or structural, logical and operational changes can be made without departing from the scope of what is claimed. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

The present disclosure relates to firearm buttstocks that are designed to keep a thumb of a user hand above a trigger of a firearm. Although, the buttstocks of this disclosure can suit and be applicable to various firearms, the buttstocks of this disclosure are primarily for use with AR-15, M-16, and SR-25 rifles. In addition, the firearm buttstocks are preferably non-adjustable.

A buttstock is generally a part of or an accessory of firearms, to which a firing mechanism is attached and is held against a user's shoulder when shooting the firearm. The terms “buttstock,” “stock,” are “shoulder stock” are equivalents. As such, the buttstock provides a means for the user to firmly support the firearm and easily aim with stability.

According to various embodiments of this disclosure, the buttstock includes a body of a complex design. The buttstock can be a modular or a single-piece assembly, depending on a particular application and design constraints. For example, the buttstock can be made essentially of a tube or it can be of a tubular design, but not necessarily. In another example, the buttstock can be a one-piece wooden element.

The body of buttstock is configured to be directly or indirectly connected to a lower receiver of the firearm. Specifically, the body includes a receptacle for accommodating a buffer tube of the firearm. The body can be also fastened to the lower receiver of firearm in an area being proximate to a trigger. In some embodiments, it is relevant that neither buttstock nor the firearm has a pistol grip.

The buttstock also includes an opening, thumbhole, recess, or a support (e.g., a support surface) arranged substantially in or nearby the upper portion of the body, and designed to receive and accommodate a thumb of a user hand. In operation, the remaining fingers of the user hand are to be wrapped around the lower portion of the body, while the index finger can easily reach the trigger of the firearm. The location and shape of the opening (recess, support surface) are such that the thumb of the user hand is always above the trigger of firearm, when the user operates the buttstock connected to the firearm. In other words, the opening for accommodating the thumb is always above the trigger.

The buttstock or any of its parts may be formed of various natural or synthetic materials, including, but not limited to, wood, hardwood, metal, metal alloys, unreinforced or reinforced polymers, ceramics, composite materials, including fiberglass, graphite, synthetic fiber, and the like.

In some embodiments, a lower portion of the body of buttstock may be provided with an adaptor for connecting the body to a pistol grip connection portion of the rifle. In one example, the adaptor may be configured in a form of a recess to accommodate the pistol grip connection portion of the rifle.

Therefore, when the buffer tube is inserted into the recess in an upper portion of the buttstock, the recess of the adaptor may accommodate the pistol grip connection portion. In another example, the adapter can be in a form of an additional member placed between the body and the lower receiver of the rifle. In either example, the adaptor may have an opening. The opening may be used to insert a fastener and to attach the fastener to the pistol grip connection portion of the rifle.

For purposes of this patent document, the terms “or” and “and” shall mean “and/or” unless stated otherwise or clearly intended otherwise by the context of their use. The term “a” shall mean “one or more” unless stated otherwise or where the use of “one or more” is clearly inappropriate. The terms “comprise,” “comprising,” “include,” and “including” are interchangeable and not intended to be limiting. For example, the term “including” shall be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to.” It should be also understood that the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth can be used herein to describe various elements. These terms are used to distinguish one element from another, but not to imply a required sequence of elements. For example, a first element can be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element can be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of present teachings.

Moreover, it shall be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” or “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly on or connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements can be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” and so forth). Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like may be used to describe an element or feature's relationship to another element(s) and/or feature(s) as, for example, illustrated in the drawings.

Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. It shall be appreciated the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of firearm buttstock or its elements in use in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the firearm buttstock or any of its components in the drawings is turned over, elements described as “below” and/or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features, and vice versa. The firearm buttstock or its components may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The term “firearm” shall be construed to mean a weapon, including, for example, a rifle, such as an automatic and semi-automatic rifle, assault rifle, portable gun, handgun, long gun, shotgun, carabine, machine gun, personal defense weapon, and the like. Relevant examples include AR-15, M-16, and SR-25 rifles.

The term “fastener” shall be construed to mean a device for connecting two or more parts together. Some examples of the fastener include, for example, a screw, bolt, nail, pin, rivet, cable, clamp, connecting, coupling, dowel, hook, and other like fastening devices.

The term “receptacle” shall be construed to mean a “female” substance mechanical component or an item with sides that define a volume for placing therein an object, such as but not limited to, a buffer tube of a rifle, a buffer of a rifle, a part of a firing mechanism of a rifle, and the like.

Now, exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are schematic illustrations of idealized example embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments discussed herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a buttstock 100 for a rifle, according to an example embodiment. The buttstock 100 includes a body 110. The body 110 may be made of wood, hardwood, metal, metal alloy, polymers, ceramics, composite materials, or any combination thereof. The body 110 has an upper portion 115, a lower portion 120, a rear portion 140, and a front portion 145. Rear portion 140 is configured to press and hold against a shoulder of a user. It provides a necessary support when the buttstock connected to a rifle is operated by the user.

Front portion 145 is configured to be connected to the rifle, for example, to a pistol grip connection portion of the rifle. Upper portion 115 is also designed to be connected to the rifle. For these ends, upper portion 115 includes a receptacle 125 for accommodating a buffer tube of the rifle or another rear part of a firing mechanism of the rifle. Receptacle 125 may include an opening or recess having a shape which substantially replicates a shape of the buffer tube or the rear part of firing mechanism. As such, upon connection of buttstock 100 to the rifle, receptacle 125 receives the buffer tube or the rear part of firing mechanism of the rifle. There can be also provided one or more fasteners to secure the buffer tube or the rear part of firing mechanism of the rifle inside receptacle 125.

Lower portion 120 is configured to enable the user to hold the buttstock with a palm of the user hand. As shown in the figure, lower portion 120 may optionally have an adaptor 130 for connecting body 110 to the pistol grip connection portion of the rifle or another part of the rifle. Adaptor 130 may be in a form of a block or an intermediate connecting device. Adaptor 130 may also include an opening 135 for a fastener (not shown). Moreover, lower portion may also include an opening 150 for the fastener such that opening 135 can be aligned with opening 150. The single fastener can be accommodated within opening 135 and opening 150 to enable connection of body 110 to the rifle. In other words, the fastener may be inserted into opening 135 and opening 150 to attach buttstock 100 to the rifle. In certain embodiments, the rifle may have the pistol grip removed before body 110 and optional adapter 130 are attached to the rifle. Note that lower portion 120 does not include a pistol grip, but may have a curved shape to provide a necessary support to a rear side of a user palm upon operation of the buttstock.

Therefore, buttstock 100 may be connected to the rifle in two points. The first connection point includes receptacle 125 into which the buffer tube of the rifle is inserted. The second connection point includes adaptor 130 or front portion 145 of body 110 connected to the pistol grip connection portion of the rifle.

As shown in the figure, upper portion 115 and/or front portion 145 are designed to include an opening 155. Opening 155 is designed to accommodate a thumb of the user hand upon operation of the buttstock. Importantly, opening 155 may be of various designs, forms, or shapes. For example, opening 155 can be a through-hole or a thumbhole. In another example, as shown in FIG. 1, opening 155 can constitute a recess formed within upper portion 115 and/or front portion 145. In yet other embodiments, opening 155 may be a curved support surface of formed within upper portion 115 and/or front portion 145 also designed to conveniently accommodate the thumb of user hand.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram 200 illustrating buttstock 100 connected to a rifle 210, according to an example embodiment. Generally, the rifle includes a lower receiver 230. Rifle 210 also includes a buffer tube 205, a trigger 235, and a pistol grip connection portion 215.

As shown in the figure, upper portion 115 of buttstock 100 includes receptacle 125 which accommodates a buffer tube 205 of a rifle 210. Lower receiver 230 of the rifle has pistol grip connection portion 215 which is designed to connect a pistol grip to the rifle. When the pistol grip is removed from the rifle, buttstock 100 can be connected to rifle 210. Specifically, front portion 145 of buttstock 100 may be connected to pistol grip connection portion 215 directly or indirectly via an optional adapter 130.

Both optional adaptor 130 and front portion 145 may have openings 135 and 155, respectively. A fastener 220, such as a screw or bolt, may be used to connect adaptor 130 and body 110 of buttstock 100 to pistol grip connection portion 215 of rifle 210. In an example embodiment, fastener 220 may be screwed into opening 135.

As explained above, buttstock 100 may have a curved contour to form opening 155 between body 110 of buttstock 100 and lower receiver 230 of rifle 210 when buttstock 100 is attached to rifle 210. Opening 155 may be disposed higher (above) than trigger 235 of the rifle 210.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram 300 illustrating a position of a user hand when buttstock 100 is connected to rifle 210, according to an example embodiment. A user may place a user hand on buttstock 110 connected to rifle 210. More specifically, the user may place an index finger 310 on trigger 235. Furthermore, the user may place a thumb 315 into opening 155 and place the rest of his fingers 305 under lower portion 120 of buttstock 110 so as to wrap it around. Opening 155 may be located above trigger 235. Therefore, thumb 315 is positioned above trigger 235 and index finger 310 upon operation of rifle 200. An axis 320 shows an axis on which thumb 315 is located. An axis 325 shows an axis on which index finger 310 is located. As shown on FIG. 3, the axis 320 is above than axis 325.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram 400 illustrating another example embodiment of buttstock 100 connected to rifle 210. Buttstock 100 may have an adapter 130 in a front portion and/or lower portion 120 of buttstock 100. The adapter 130 may be made of a metal, metal alloy, wood, hardwood, polymer, fiber, or any other material, and may be configured to be connected to a lower receiver (not shown) of rifle 210. Adapter 130 may be also connected to body 110 of buttstock 100. Opening 155 for accommodating a thumb of a user hand may be formed between body 110 of buttstock 100 and rifle 210 as shown in the figure. Opening 155 can be in a form of a support surface or recess in body 110 of buttstock 100.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram 500 illustrating a front-side isometric view of buttstock 100, according to an example embodiment. This figure shows front portion 145, lower portion 120, upper portion 115, and rear portion 140 of body 110. There is also shown receptacle 125 which is a recess or an opening formed in front portion 145 and/or upper portion 115. Receptacle 125 is designed to accommodate a rear portion of firing mechanism of rifle lower receiver, such as buffer tube 205 of rifle 210. Front portion 145 and/or upper portion 115 can also include a receptacle 510 to receive and accommodate another part of the rear portion of firing mechanism such as a part or rifle lower receiver 230. Finally, FIG. 5 shows opening 155 for receiving and supporting a thumb of user hand. Opening 155 has an ergonomic shape mirroring an anatomic shape of user hand.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram 600 illustrating yet another example embodiment of buttstock 100 connected to rifle 210. In this embodiment, buttstock 100 is implemented in a tubular shape. For example, buttstock 100 can include two or more tubular-like or cylindrical-like interconnected together as shown in the figure. In this embodiment, buttstock 100 also includes a body having lower portion 120, front portion 145, upper portion 115, and rear portion 140. Upper portion 115 includes a receptacle 125, such as an opening or recess, for accommodating buffer tube 205 of rifle 210. Lower portion 120 may be curved and shaped to provide a support to a rear side of user hand, when buttstock 100 is in operation.

Rifle 210 includes lower receiver 230 or a firing mechanism which includes pistol grip connection portion 215 and trigger 235. Front portion 145 of buttock is designed to be connected to pistol grip connection portion 215 or another portion of the firing mechanism. There can be provided one or more fasteners to connect or fix front portion 145 to pistol grip connection portion 215 or another portion of rifle. There can be also provided one or more fasteners to connect or fix buffer tube 205 of rifle 210 to upper portion 115 of buttstock 100.

Finally, the curved shape of front portion 145 and/or upper portion 115 form opening 155 for accommodating a thumb of a user hand. Opening 155 can be a support surface of a certain part of upper portion 115. For example, opening 155 is formed by an upper surface of tubular element of buttstock and buffer tube 205.

Thus, firearm buttstocks have been described. Although embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes can be made to these example embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the present document. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A buttstock for a firearm, the buttstock comprising: a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion, and rear portion, wherein the front portion is configured to be coupled to the firearm; a receptacle in the upper portion for accommodating a buffer tube of the firearm; and an opening for accommodating a thumb of a user hand, the opening being arranged in the body of the buttstock such that when a user operates the buttstock connected to the firearm, the thumb of the user hand is positioned above a trigger of the firearm.
 2. The buttstock of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the body is configured to allow remaining fingers of the user hand to wrap around the lower portion when the user operates the buttstock with the firearm.
 3. The buttstock of claim 1, wherein the buttstock is a non-adjustable modular device.
 4. The buttstock of claim 1, wherein the buttstock is a non-adjustable single-piece device.
 5. The buttstock of claim 1, wherein the buttstock does not include a pistol grip.
 6. The buttstock of claim 1, wherein the front portion is configured to be connected to a lower receiver of the firearm, wherein the firearm does not include a pistol grip.
 7. The buttstock of claim 6, wherein the front portion includes a through-hole for a fastener configured to fasten the buttstock to the lower receiver of the firearm.
 8. The buttstock of claim 1, wherein the opening for accommodating the thumb of the user hand is a through-hole within the upper portion or the front portion of the body.
 9. The buttstock of claim 1, wherein the opening for accommodating the thumb of the user hand is a recess-like opening formed by a curved shape of the upper portion or the front portion of the body.
 10. The buttstock of claim 1, wherein the opening for accommodating the thumb of the user hand is formed by a curved surface of the upper portion of the body.
 11. The buttstock of claim 1, further comprising an adapter for direct positioning between the front portion of the body and a lower receiver of the firearm.
 12. The buttstock of claim 11, wherein the adapter includes a through-hole for a fastener configured to fasten the buttstock to the lower receiver of the firearm through the adapter.
 13. The buttstock of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the body is curved to provide a support to a rear side of a palm of the user hand.
 14. The buttstock of claim 1, wherein the body is a curved tubular assembly.
 15. A buttstock for a firearm, the buttstock comprising: a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion, and rear portion, wherein the front portion is configured to be coupled to the firearm; a receptacle in the upper portion for accommodating a buffer tube of the firearm; and an opening for accommodating a thumb of a user hand, the opening being formed in the body of the buttstock at a level, which is higher than a trigger of the firearm.
 16. The buttstock of claim 15, wherein the opening for accommodating the thumb of the user hand is a through-hole within the upper portion or the front portion of the body.
 17. The buttstock of claim 15, wherein the opening for accommodating the thumb of the user hand is a recess-like opening formed by a curved shape of the upper portion or the front portion of the body.
 18. The buttstock of claim 15, wherein the opening for accommodating the thumb of the user hand is formed by a curved surface of the upper portion of the body.
 19. A buttstock for a firearm, the buttstock comprising: a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion, and rear portion, wherein the front portion is configured to be coupled to the firearm; a receptacle in the upper portion for accommodating a buffer tube of the firearm; and a support for accommodating a thumb of a user hand, the support being a recess or an opening formed by a curved shape of the upper portion of the body, wherein the support is arranged such that when a user operates the buttstock connected to the firearm, the thumb of the user hand is positioned above a trigger of the firearm.
 20. The buttstock of claim 19, wherein the body is a curved tubular assembly. 